by Jessica Gillette | Jun 11, 2025
NAVIGATING CONSTRUCTION: A GUIDE TO INDUSTRY BASICS
Begins Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Enhance your professional value to your company! Whether you’re new to the industry or supporting those in the field, this workshop is for you! Learn foundational knowledge to communicate confidently and contribute more effectively. Gain confidence, clarity, and credibility when working with construction teams and documents.
What You’ll Learn:
– How construction firms are organized and how projects are executed
– The roles of employees, contractors, and how change affects the industry
– The basics of essential documents: contracts, change orders, and blueprints
– Key terminology and processes to help you speak the construction industry language
Who Should Attend?
Entry-Level Construction Professionals, Interns, Finance/Accounting Staff, Administrative/Executive Assistants, Marketing Specialists, Project Assistants, Bookkeepers
**Registration closes Friday, October 17, at 5PM.**
SCHEDULE
Four-Day Course:
October 21 & 22
November 4 & 5
8:00AM – 12:00PM
Light breakfast provided
COST
Member – $295
Non-Member – $395
Light breakfast provided
LOCATION
ABC-VA Central Virginia Training Facility
1600 E Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual can no longer attend. Please note that a reservation constitutes a financial commitment unless cancellations are made by 5PM on October 14, 2025.
Questions?
Contact Kristen Altermatt
by Jessica Gillette | Jun 11, 2025
READING CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS: BLUEPRINT READING 101
Begins Tuesday, September 30, 2025 | Please see detailed schedule below
Crack the Code: Blueprint Reading Made Easy! Unlock the language of construction and boost your career! This comprehensive beginner-friendly course covers all phases of a construction project. Using real-world examples, participants will discuss the phases of construction including site, landscape, architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical.
All employees in the construction industry can benefit from this course. Knowing and understanding the blueprint language is a highly marketable skill and makes you an invaluable asset to your company.
SCHEDULE
Six-Day Course:
September 30
October 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15
2:00PM – 5:00PM
COST
Member – $370
Non-Member – $540
LOCATION
ABC-VA Central Virginia Training Facility
1600 E Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual can no longer attend. Please note that a reservation constitutes a financial commitment unless cancellations are made by 5PM on September 23, 2025.
Questions?
Contact Kristen Altermatt
by Jessica Gillette | Jun 10, 2025
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE WORKSHOP
Tuesday, September 23 & Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 8:30AM – 4:30PM
Based off Stephen R. Covey’s popular book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this class will teach you how to execute critical priorities with focus & planning, end self-defeating behavior, develop strong relationships based on mutual trust, be prepared to deal with difficult circumstances before they happen, increase team engagement, morale and collaboration, create a highly effective culture based on core values and raise up the next leaders who model competence & character.
This dynamic, two-day workshop will help you:
• Prioritize and execute your most important tasks with clarity and discipline
• Break free from unproductive habits and behaviors
• Build strong, trust-based relationships
• Anticipate and effectively handle challenging situations
• Foster higher levels of engagement, morale, and collaboration
• Shape a high-performance culture grounded in shared values
• Develop future leaders who exemplify both character and competence
Join ABC-VA for two days of interactive discussion on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Learn how to use the seven habits to strengthen both professional and personal development. This renowned class will leave you feeling energized, refreshed and ready to take on the world with a new perspective.
PRE-WORK REQUIRED: Attendees will be sent a 360-degree survey to send to supervisors, colleagues, industry peers, friends and the like. Register early to make sure you have plenty of time for your surveys to be completed!
“A class everyone (at every level) should complete. I took so much from this and work to apply it to my life every day!” -Juliane Faller, Senior Business Development Manager, Balfour Beatty US
• Recommended but not required reading: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Information on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/
• Information on Dr. Stephen R. Covey and The 7 Habits: https://www.stephencovey.com/
INSTRUCTOR
Patrick Dean, ABC-VA President – Pat was appointed president of ABC-VA in 1992, and the chapter grew rapidly under his leadership. The once Northern Virginia-based association expanded, opening offices with training facilities in Richmond and Norfolk. The ABC-VA membership increased significantly as the chapter became the foremost construction training association in the state while becoming the political advocacy group for the commercial construction industry. Pat is a firm believer in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and has been teaching this course for many years.
LOCATION
ABC-VA Central Virginia Training Facility
1600 E Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228
COST
Members: $595
Non-Members: $795
Includes light breakfast, lunch and course materials
REGISTRATION / CANCELLATION DEADLINE
A reservation constitutes a financial commitment unless cancellations are made by 5PM on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Substitutions are always welcome if the originally registered attendee(s) can no longer attend.
COURSE CONTACT
Kristen Altermatt
by Jessica Gillette | Jun 10, 2025
MANAGING ECONOMIC VOLATILITY & TARIFFS IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
Monday, July 14, 2025 | 3:00PM – 5:00PM
This presentation will provide practical legal and project management strategies for dealing with economic challenges in construction projects, such as inflation, tariffs, and material cost spikes. Speakers from Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law.
Topics covered:
— Overview of industry-standard clauses that help manage economic risk and evaluation of how well these clauses address volatility.
— Legal doctrines that may provide relief even without express contract terms and limitations and requirements for invoking them.
— Tailoring contracts to anticipate economic fluctuations, including escalation clauses, force majeure, and material price adjustment provisions.
— What to do when facing or filing a claim for cost overages, and legal and procedural steps to protect your position.
Q&A and Informal Happy Hour/Networking to follow
VIRTUAL OPTION AVAILABLE! Please select Virtual Participant during registration. You will receive the virtual link within 24 hours before the workshop begins.
LOCATION
ABC-VA Northern Virginia Training Facility
42680 Trade West Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
COST
Members – $40
Non-Members – $60
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual(s) can no longer attend. Written notice to cancel must be received within 48 hours of training for a refund.
Questions?
Contact Jenny Tashjian
by Jessica Gillette | Jun 10, 2025
EXCELERATE YOUR SKILLS: MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | 3:00PM – 5:00PM
Maximize the power of an Excel spreadsheet to assist you with every day construction tasks like workforce scheduling, estimating, and data analysis. We’ll be demonstrating:
– Basic functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
– Conditional functions (IF, AND, OR, NOT)
– Lookup and calculate functions using tables of data
– Spreadsheet collaboration – sharing files with multiple users
– Protecting formulas from inadvertent changes or edits – defining, locking, and unlocking cells
– Linking spreadsheets together to combine data from multiple sources
– How to create basic charts and graphs
This is a hands-on learning class – bring your laptop (with a copy of Excel pre-loaded), a mouse, and a power cord to class.
LOCATION
ABC-VA Central Virginia Training Facility
1600 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228
COST
Members – $55
Non-Members – $85
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual(s) can no longer attend. Written notice to cancel must be received within 48 hours of training for a refund.
Questions?
Contact Kristen Altermatt
